Final Exam Study Tips for Students
You have been a good student and have always prepared well for any exam. Now, your finals are coming up, and you are gearing up for that. These exams test your knowledge of what you have learnt throughout the year. Hence, they are crucial to your academic progress. Therefore, you have a lot to learn and retain for them. Also, every study technique is not workable for these exams. You need to apply some unique strategies to do well in these exams. Here are some exam tips for students to ace the finals.
Start studying early
You must begin studying a few weeks before the finals, for the finals. Avoid last-minute study at all costs. Some students do thrive on this, yet we suggest not to rely on cramming everything at the very last minute. Plan your time well and craft a study schedule to help you out. Figure out how long you will take for each subject or topic and allot time accordingly. Only you know yourself, so only you know how much time you need to spend on each subject. This is your first step.
Set an order to study
If you decide to study from all your notes for the finals, think again. This will only lead to cramming, which is not recommended. Thus, set an order to study. This means, thinking about what you know will certainly be asked in a subject or topic and reviewing those notes first. Next, consider what may be asked in the exam and cover those topics. This way, you will have the basics in place and will not have to worry in case you run out of time. Also, devote more time to topics you find difficult to master.
Also read: Tips to Help Students Cope with Exam Stress
Understand basic concepts
One crucial tip for exam preparation is to understand basic concepts and avoid simply memorising them. When you understand them, you will retain them better. Understand their application. This will make understanding complex concepts easy. Also, when you are thorough in your basic concepts will eventually help you gauge what questions might be asked about them. This is very imperative when you are preparing for your finals.
Use visualisation techniques 
Use visual aids while studying. When you begin studying a topic, write down everything you know about it and then highlight the gaps. When the exam nears, make your notes concise, turning them into one-page diagrams. Putting down your thoughts in brief will help you recall what you’ve studied better. You can even unleash your creative side and form rhymes or word associations to retain information. Forming charts and mind maps, are all helpful techniques for retention and recall.
Form a study group
When you study in a group, you can get your questions addressed. Besides, others in the group can also have questions, which you may have answers for. You can be innovative and even create a study guide to test each other. Study sessions in a group can also be stimulating, keeping you away from boredom and monotony. However, it is important to stick to the topic and the number of hours of study decided by the group.
Also read: Revision Tips for Students Before an Exam
There are many final exam study tips to look into. However, we have cited the most important and crucial ones we think must be followed. Yet, there are some that we would like to mention below as well.
- Set daily goals
- Manage your time efficiently
- Take small breaks while studying
- Get someone to quiz you on a topic
- Teach someone what you studied
- Stay away from distractions
- Engage in fun activities
- Eat right and sleep well
Studying for your finals requires a strategic plan to crack them and stay ahead in the game. Remember, although exam formats are standardised, you can alter your study process specifically for this exam. You can make it less stressful, fun and innovative, which will also help you stay away from exam anxiety.
Also read: The Online Student’s Guide to Exams
